Gulf teams set for Fuzzy Wuzzy 9s

THE organising committee of the inaugural Fuzzy Wuzzy Nines rugby league tournament has set Aug 28 as the deadline for team registration. Tournament director Veks Baro announced this after accepting payment from Gulf Isapea chairman Jacob Ivaroa for three teams. Ivaroa presented a cheque for K2250 to the Fuzzy Wuzzy 9s chairman Mathias Jack at the Port Moresby Rugby League office at the National Football Stadium yesterday. The team registration fee is K750 per team and so far 22 teams have registered with only two more spaces up for grabs. Baro said the teams must register by the due date for logistics to be arranged. Ivaroa said his club was happy to be part of the tournament to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of the famous Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels during the Second World War. Ivaroa said the three teams would consists of West rugby league club, the Port Moresby-based Isapea team and a Gulf Isapea team from Kerema town made up of invited players. Fuzzy Wuzzy 9s chairman Jack commended the Isapea for their participation saying it would only add to the significance and value of the tournament. The champions will walk away with K20,000 and the Fuzzy Wuzzy Nines cup while the runners-up get a shield and K10,000. The celebrations kick off with a corporate dinner at Gateway Hotel on Sept 2, followed by the endurance marathon on Sept 9-10 on the Kokoda Track, the Fuzzy Wuzzy 9s tournament from the Sept 11-15, and ends with a cultural show on Independence Day at the Sogeri Oval.